Seahawks drill 49ers to spoil debut of Singletary

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The San Francisco 49ers changed their
coach, but the result was the same.

Behind new head coach Mike Singletary, the 49ers dropped their
fifth straight game Sunday, absorbing a 34-13 beating from the
Seattle Seahawks.

Singletary took over the reins of the beleaguered Niners when
Mike Nolan was fired on Monday, one day after a 29-17 defeat to
the New York Giants. Singletary had served as Nolan's assistant
head coach and defensive assistant since 2005.

However, the wretched performance by San Francisco prompted
Singletary to apologize after a game during which he ordered
tight end Vernon Davis to the locker room.

"It will change," Singletary said. "Not because of me, but
because they want it to change. They want to be champions and
they will get it done."

Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, who was filling in for the
injured Matt Hasselbeck, threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns
to fullback Leonard Weaver for the Seahawks (2-5), who snapped a
three-game losing streak.

"The big plays seemed to settle us down," Wallace said. "I
didn't try to do too much. I just wanted to get the ball in the
playmakers' hands and not make any mistakes."

Wallace connected with Weaver on scoring passes of 43 and 62
yards for Seattle, which avenged a 33-30 overtime loss to San
Francisco in Week Two. Weaver had four receptions for 116 yards.

Niners quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan was benched at the end of the
first half in favor of Shaun Hill, who started the season as the
49ers' No. 3 signal caller.

"I'm disappointed," O'Sullivan said. "Obviously you want to give
your team a chance to get back in the game and win."

O'Sullivan was outstanding in the Week Two matchup, throwing for
321 yards and a touchdown. However, the journeyman QB has
struggled since, throwing 10 interceptions in those five losses.
O'Sullivan also has been sacked a league-high 32 times.

"Sometimes you make a change and re-visit later," Singletary
said. "But today, I thought Shaun Hill gave us a better chance
of winning at that point."

Trailing 13-3, San Francisco was driving in Seattle territory
near the end of the first half, but cornerback Josh Wilson
stepped in front of a pass by O'Sullivan and raced 75 yards into
the end zone for a 20-3 halftime lead.

"That's the way our defense has played the last couple of
years," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. Turnovers for us are a
big deal. They are momentum-changers."

Davis, a former first-round pick, showed his frustration by
getting penalized for unnecessary roughing late in the third
quarter and then getting into a shouting match with his new head
coach on the sideline in the fourth quarter.

Davis was immediately sent off the field for the remainder of
the game by Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker who made it
clear what is expected from his players.

"It's like I told the team during the week," Singletary said. "I
will not tolerate any player who thinks it's about them and not
about the team.

"I'm from the old school. I would rather play with 10 guys and
get a penalty on every play than play someone who doesn't want
to play as part of the team."

Ironically, Holmgren, a Bay Area native and former San Francisco
assistant, already has been rumored to be a candidate for the
49ers job next season. However, Holmgren reiterated his decision
to sit out next season earlier in the week.